SLI or 1033 MHz ?

[genghiskhanid]

I've been reading the forum without finding anything.

For a game system, should I opt for a SLI based system to maximize video or should I max out on ram speed by getting a p35 board ? A board with both doesn't exist so I'll need to get one or the other. Anyone has an opinion?

thanks

 

[BUFF]

I would get a P35 - unless you are prepared & able to buy 2 high end (8800/X2900) gfx cards & have the monitor to do them justice you are better with a single good card than 2 middle of the road imo.

 

[genghiskhanid]

Thank you very much Buff,

guess i'll go with your opinion since I usually don't play games above 1280x1024.

And you're also making me save money^^

 

[Taft12]

Agreed, you're almost always better off with a better vid card than using SLI with 2 lesser cards (eg. 8800GTS is better than SLI 8600GT).

 

[genghiskhanid]

Ok but I wanted to SLI 2x 8800GTS 320Mb with 2Gb 800MHz ram on a 680i board or 1x 8800GTS 640Mb with 2Gb 1033Mhz on a p35 board.

If it's mainly to play games on a 1280x1024 resolution, should I go with option 1 or option 2?

 

[Hatman]

option2

 

[djcoolmasterx]

Although as you are only playing at 1280x1024 the 8800GTS 320Mb should work fine because its only at higher resolutions there is a real difference in performance between it and the 640MB version.

 

[warezme]

Ok but I wanted to SLI 2x 8800GTS 320Mb with 2Gb 800MHz ram on a 680i board or 1x 8800GTS 640Mb with 2Gb 1033Mhz on a p35 board.

If it's mainly to play games on a 1280x1024 resolution, should I go with option 1 or option 2?

First of all, the 680i has two full 16X PCIE slots and there is not reason you can't push your mem or FSB or both to 1033Mhz or higher if thats what you wanted with quality memory. The added memory of the 640MB 8800GTS will only increase your performance at full HD resolutions 1920x1080 or higher. At 1280x1024 either the 320MB or 640MB cards in SLI will perform similar when clocked equally.

But don't get me wrong a single 8800GTS 640MB will do just fine on that single 16X PCIE slot of the P35 board with DDR3 mem for your purposes no problem. It will just limit some of your upgrade options if you ever decide you have to have SLI in the future.

 

[jitpublisher]

Either one of the options aren't going to make a huge difference for what you do and the resolutions you are limited to. The most economic option with the best results is a single 8800GTS and faster memory.

 

[f61]

But if you can find a P35 board with SLi you get both.

Here a page of the P35 boards. Note that the 2nd PCIe x16 is clocked as x4. Not the desired '8x8' setup some people want. Hey, who let BioStar in here ! 😉

With these P35 boards, you set the FSB to 4x333 and your installed Q or E6600 looks like a Q or E6750 for FREE. After that, its 8800GTS 320 and cap a few baddies. Want more, just o/c and add another GTS8800 later.

f61

 

[f61]

@ warezme: righteous there about 1080x1920, it will be here sooner than most people think. I get a kick outta builders that blow 1 1/2G's on a system that plays at 1280x1024. Find an NEC or Sammy 1920x1200, and max it out. Here's one.

What ever happened to compute AND DISPLAY?!?!?! :lol:

 

[BUFF]

But if you can find a P35 board with SLi you get both.

Doesn't exist - officially it's Crossfire compatible only.
Unofficially you might get SLI running with older hacked drivers but there aren't any for 8800s afaik.

 

[f61]

Ya know, you're right. I presumed the two PCI-e meant either, but in double checking I did see one or two listed as crossfire ready. Nothing stating SLi ready.

f61